About Me

Hey there, I'm Cody Sand, the architect behind Sandtoken. I built my first website back in ~1999. Over the years, I've grown passionate about crafting digital solutions that merge technical excellence with thoughtful design and transforming complex technical challenges into elegant, user-friendly experiences.

Origin

I am a native of Dubuque, IA, a graduate of Univerity of Wisconsin–Platteville's Computer Science program.

First laying hands on a computer back in the mid-1990s; I was immediately hooked. I've worn many hats over the years, from Geek Squad Agent to software architect, but my passion for building things has remained constant.

After graduating from UWP, I spent 12 years working at Cartegraph designing and building their then-cutting-edge operations management system, breaking ground on flagship features such as runtime-customizable metadata-driven architecture, UX-friendly data visualization, third-party login, data-binding/form validation, and client-side routing/navigation.

Sandtoken...

My journey in tech led me to founding Sandtoken in 2016. Since then, I've had the privilege of developing solutions for industry leaders like John Deere, educational institutions such as Loras College, public service entities like Dubuque County Library District, and marketing agencies such as McCullough Creative. As a former Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer, I've maintained a commitment to technical excellence while embracing modern development practices and emerging technologies.

Day Jobs

For now, I do not depend on the freelance software development services I provide to make ends meet. I'm merely filling a gap in talent for companies in places like Dubuque (and Galena, IL -- and Platteville, WI -- and other cities in the IL/WI/IA tri-state region) that have a shortage of high-quality technologists.

I spend my days working at Esri building platform-level functionality for ArcGIS for Microsoft 365 integrations, including Excel, Sharepoint, Power BI, Teams, and Power Automate.

Experience

Current Focus

My technical toolkit is comprehensive and constantly evolving. Currently, I specialize in:

  • Modern frontend development with React, TypeScript, and Next.js
  • Robust backend solutions using Node.js and various database technologies
  • Process automation and disparate systems integrations
  • Cloud infrastructure and serverless applications on AWS and DigitalOcean

Software Engineering

  • Frontend Technologies: React, Redux, Zustand, RxJS, Angular, SASS/CSS, jQuery, KnockoutJS, Next.js, PayloadCMS, React SSR, Fluent 2 Design System, MobX, TailwindCSS, PostCSS, CSS Modules, GSAP, ThreeJS, Waypoints, Intersection Observer, Angular Forms, NgRx, ArcGIS SDK for JS, AG Grid
  • Backend Technologies: Node.js, ASP.NET
  • Programming Languages: TypeScript, JavaScript, C#, F#, HTML, CSS
  • Programming Paradigms: Functional programming, Metadata-Driven Architecture, Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
  • Databases and ORMs: SQL Server, MongoDB, Postgres, MySQL, Entity Framework, TypeORM, REST APIs, GraphQL
  • Frontend/UI Development: Client-Side UX/UI, SPAs (Single-page Applications), Animated user experiences, Data Visualization, iOS, Microsoft Excel/SharePoint/Teams/Power BI integrations, AmCharts, D3, ArcGIS SDK for JavaScript, Custom UX for AmCharts, Cordova, Ionic
  • Packaging/Distribution: App Store, Google Play Store, npm Package Development, Package Versioning, Dependency Management
  • Testing and QA: MSTest, Karma, Jasmine, Mocha, Cypress, ESLint, TSLint, Roslyn analyzers

Project Management

  • Development Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Kanban
  • Project/Task Management Tools: Azure DevOps, GitHub Projects, Trello
  • Responsibilities and Processes: Research and development, Core module maintenance, Migration of frameworks, Product planning, Time estimation, Risk identification, Code quality assurance, CI/CD processes

DevOps and Infrastructure

  • Servers and Hosting: Ubuntu Linux, Windows Server, AWS, DigitalOcean, AWS S3, CloudFront, Netlify
  • CI/CD: Bitbucket Pipelines, AWS, Netlify, DeployBot, GitHub Actions

Authentication & Security

  • Authentication/Authorization: Okta, OAuth2

Third-Party Integrations

  • SDKs/APIs: Google Maps, ArcGIS SDK, Zapier, SendGrid, Twilio, Google Analytics, HealthKit, Sentry, Mixpanel, Application Insights

E-commerce

  • Payment Processing: Custom workflows, Cart/checkout session handling, Coupon/discount/tax/shipping rate processing

Additional Skills

  • Public Speaking
  • Rapid Prototyping
  • Technical Proofreading
  • Data Modeling

My Approach

Every project begins with a thorough understanding of the business context, ensuring that technical decisions align with real-world objectives. Whether it's a complex enterprise application or a streamlined e-commerce platform, I focus on delivering solutions that provide lasting value.

I'm not interested in projects that aren't helping make someone's life/job easier.

Beyond Code

When I'm not immersed in code, you might find me spending time with my family, strumming a guitar, tending my garden, or visiting the farmer's market. With so much time spent looking at screens, I try to balance my time with activities that are good for the soul.

Let's Collaborate

Ready to bring your digital vision to life? Let's have a conversation about your project over a craft coffee or virtual meet-up. Drop me a line at cody@sandtoken.com, and let's explore how we can create something exceptional together.

Interested in working with me?

I'd love to chat with you about your project.

Let's Get Started